Dish Networking getting 1080p VOD

[DustoMan]

Dish Network has an ad page up promoting their new TurboHD packages. In it is a small blurb about being the first TV service to offer 1080p HD VOD. Suppose to start Aug 1st. We'll see how good it is then.



http://www.dishnetwork.com/turbo_is_coming/index.shtml

EDIT: They took the page down.

[allargon]

No surprise they pulled it as none of their HD receivers do 1080p out.

[Bruuce]

Interesting.

[Chickengas]

What would suffer? Doesn't 1080p take an incredible amount of bandwidth? If they offered it, I'm guessing it would cost a fortune! Maybe $15-$20 a movie? For an extra $5-$10 I'd rather own on Blu with some extras...

[HDTV1080P]

Of course the quality will not be as good as BLU-RAY but it appears that both Direct TV and Dish Network will soon offer true 1080P movies. Hopefully Dish Network will offer new receivers that output 1080P/24 instead of just 1080P/60.

Quote
"To make use of the capability, Dish said it will offer subscribers in August the recent Will Smith theatrical blockbuster “I Am Legend” in 1080p HD format through its video on demand service, Dish On Demand at a special $2.99 rate, reduced from the $6.99 video-on-demand HD rate. Subscribers may order the movie on Dish Network Channel 501.”
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6583046.html

[Super-VHS]

Originally Posted by Chickengas

What would suffer? Doesn't 1080p take an incredible amount of bandwidth? If they offered it, I'm guessing it would cost a fortune! Maybe $15-$20 a movie? For an extra $5-$10 I'd rather own on Blu with some extras...

I believe (as in - don't quote me) but 1080p/24 needs less bandwidth than 1080i60.....

I thought I read that somewhere (could be totally wrong.)

[DustoMan]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Of course the quality will not be as good as BLU-RAY but it appears that both Direct TV and Dish Network will soon offer true 1080P movies. Hopefully Dish Network will offer new receivers that output 1080P/24 instead of just 1080P/60.

Quote
"To make use of the capability, Dish said it will offer subscribers in August the recent Will Smith theatrical blockbuster “I Am Legend” in 1080p HD format through its video on demand service, Dish On Demand at a special $2.99 rate, reduced from the $6.99 video-on-demand HD rate. Subscribers may order the movie on Dish Network Channel 501.”
http://www.twice.com/article/CA6583046.html

You quoted the wrong part of the press release:

DISH Network's new high definition services are supported by a proprietary system upgrade that, starting August 1, is being rolled out to all MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers. The upgrade activates a unique feature of the set-top boxes, improving the current standard of HD delivery used by pay-TV providers such as the ability to output 1080p programming. By early August, all DISH Network customers with MPEG-4 HD DVR receivers will have the only set-top boxes in the nation enabled to display 1080p content, allowing them to maximize the full potential of their 1080p-compatible HDTV sets.

[HDTV1080P]

Both Dish Network and Direct TV are going to use MPEG-4 for all new HD channels. Someday MPEG-2 will be eliminated completely to increase virtual bandwidth. Possible within 5 years all HD and SD channels will be MPEG-4 on satellite (estimate only).
The Dish spokesperson has just mentioned that a firmware update will make some of their existing receivers capably of 1080P output.
“DISH has positioned itself as the first mover in 1080p, with a system upgrade to all MPEG-4, HD-DVR receivers that begins on Aug. 1. "It's a firmware upgrade, to enable that (8 PSK) chip to output 1080p," said DISH spokesperson Francie Bauer.”
http://www.cable360.net/ct/news/ctreports/30976.html
I am not sure if the existing Direct TV receivers can be upgraded to 1080P with a firmware update, might require hardware update.

[jkr4577]

Just received this via email. 2.99 a movie for this weekend for 8/1 - 8/3! Sounds like a great deal, especially if i can DVR it.